Comments (23)

I've had three DD (dear daughter) already each labour different. After my first I couldn't contemplate another baby for 18mths. After my second I would have had another straight away. It's been 14 yrs since my last baby I'm not worried I find it exciting knowing what's on the receiving end.

My advice to you is don't go in with huge plans of no drugs and anything fancy. Listen to your body and talk to your midwife x

OBEM is cut to make it exciting, they show the loudest shouts and cries. Read up about labour options and speak to midwife etc so that you know beforehand the things you can have access to (be that epidural or pool), and also be aware of complications so that if you are unlucky enough that something isn't going as it should you and OH (other half) have some understanding of what's happening. There's nothing more scary than not knowing what's happening. I have had three straight forward labours so they do happen, and I'm excited about giving birth as I will get to meet my baby. I know I've been lucky though and won't assume that things will be as easy this time. I refuse to go into it scared or worried as I know from experience that the times I became scared or stressed were the most painful. When I was calm and in control it was beautiful!

I watched OBEM religiously before my first birth, I was determined for a home birth and I had a plan of gas and air, a birthing pool and a plan to deal with the situation calmly. After watching OBEM I have to admit I had a doubt in my mind that birth would be a peaceful,tranquil place, and that I would probably end up in hospital for 3 months because my whole body would tear in half and I would be literally on the verge of death after dealin with the pain (maybe a little dramatic but my pain threshold is AWFUL!) I actually had a very calm labour, I walked around and bounced on a yoga ball and I dealt with labour calmly, I let my body take over, I didn't scream and after 9-7.30 of contractions I entered established labour and birthed my gorgeous boy, who is now unfortunately an angel, at 10.35. I kept telling the midwife I was going to die and that I needed the ambulance to bring me an epidural, she told me that my baby's head was bulging, and that I could feel it. When I felt his head pushing down, teamed with being told I could push, I threw away the gas and air, pushed for half hour and out he popped. I had a tiny graze and I was able to go to bed that night with our little addition 💙 labour is amazing, and although I'm told all the time how lucky I was, being calm and confident is a massive help. Also walking around, gravity did a lot of the work in my labour. You can do it xx

I used to also watch it religiously before my first. Then the labour came all went really well except I was pushing for two hours! Those two hours felt longer than the whole 12 hours I was in labour, I think after watching obem I expected the pushing stage to be over fairly quickly lol turns out they cut out Alot of that part! X

Every labour is different. I had no fear going into it with my first and just listened to my body, don't worry about it until you have to is my advice and don't listen to that delightful friend/relative who we all have that delights in sharing their horror stories!

Yes you are all right my first experience will be just that and I'm sure obem is obviously real life but they want to make the show as entertaining as possible. But I will be so happy afterwards that the labour won't even matter

Like many of you I watched every episode of obem before labour and made hubby watch it too so he had some idea of what to expect from me and the situation lol I was prepared for emergency help and being teared and all sorts! Turns out it was easier than I had planned it to be. Ended up giving birth in the hallway with the help of 2 lovely paramedics in the early morning after 2 trips to the mlu 3 hours earlier where they told me I had all night to go. I gave 3 pushes (literally) while lying down and he was out I couldn't even feel my contractions at that point! I feel blessed and know I was lucky and am preparing myself for anything and everything again as I find being prepared and expecting the worst leads to a calmer and confident experience and it usually is easier than what you see on TV!

I watched obem every single day when pregnant with ds (dear son) and I thought I would be a nightmare patient as my pain threshold is pathetic lol well the most painfull part was them trying to put a canula in!! It had to go in my hand!! Only thing I was scared of was epidural which I had as I was too panicky on G&a it also helped bring my bp down. Pushed for 2hrs then had forceps. Its the only time i shouted was when my epidural didnt work on one side and his head was half out and git told to stop pushing as I tore. You will be absolutely fine :) i actually cannot wait to do it all again.

What I would say about obem is ignore the ones who are screaming the house down, it makes it a lot more difficult and your baby is more likely to become distressed if you're thrashing around screaming. X

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DS April 2006, DD August 2009, DD May 2014

MC March 2005 & MMC February 2013. Never In My Arms, Always In My Heart

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